Conservative Majority

[Dave_ON]

Ok so the CPC managed to pull off a majority, I'm still stunned and perhaps even a little bit awed. I still can't believe what a nail biter it was to the bitter end! The way some of those seats were flipping back and forth in many cases with fewer than 100 vote leads. So the election is done for at least 4 years, though 5 wouldn't surprise me so now what? Now the CPC can finally make all their hopes and dreams come true! It'll be a varitable Toriopia!

My guess for immediate actions items they will tackle.

Long Gun Registery (No big loss)

Party vote subsidy (This will all but ensure the demise of the BLOC)

What else do you think? Certainly senate reform will be up there especially considering with the NDP in opposition, the parliamentary will exists to get the ball rolling. I think this is a far steeper hill to climb than either of them yet realizes however. Will the CPC go further with electoral reform now that they are enjoying their long sought after majority?

One final note, the CPC were all but shut out of Quebec, seriously they barely beat out the BLOC. Will they extend a hand to Quebec or is this the beginning of shutting Quebec out entirely? Will Mr. Harper avoid the hot button social issues or steam roll right over them? So many questions at this point.

I will say this, I was very surprised by his speech this morning, I don't think I've ever seen Harper so open and almost, dare I say it, human. He seemed more than willing to work with the opposition but those words come easily when you have a majority I suppose. Be that as it may it'll definitely be an interesting 4-5 years. I for one will be interested to see how the Tory/NDP support firms up and takes shape.

[Rick]

What's first on the chopping block?

Your rights and freedoms.

I hope all the idiots who voted for Harper will enjoy life living in a religious police state.

[Dave_ON]

Your rights and freedoms.

I hope all the idiots who voted for Harper will enjoy life living in a religious police state.

I'm inclined to believe he'll avoid the hot button issues, I don't think he'll want to endanger his long sought after majority and moving further to the right would only threaten that rather tenuous hold he has on many Ontario ridings.

[Rick]

I'm inclined to believe he'll avoid the hot button issues, I don't think he'll want to endanger his long sought after majority and moving further to the right would only threaten that rather tenuous hold he has on many Ontario ridings.

Harper's a meglomaniac. He won't be able to contain himself and keep in mind that his base has long been clamouring for drastic change that he could not give them in a minority government.

For them, there can be no more excuses as to why he cannot give them, the radical right, the changes that they desire.

[Topaz]

Ok, so Tories got their majority, good for them, bad for Canada. So now what? Order the jets without engines, build those prisons and increase the prison population, cut taxes for corporations, bring in private health care after 2014,yes, get rid of the gun registry, perhaps the provinces can do their own, create this security perimeter around North America with the US holding power, spend the billions to finish the NA super highways, the bridge in Windsor-Detroit,. As Tories you now, own the Speaker of the House, the Senate and the government of Canada, so that puts Jack, no where, with no power to stop you or to let him keep his promises now he's out of luck! Just like back when the Tories came into being, I wonder how long will it be before new members to the party, realize what Harper is like and decide to leave and become an independent? The good thing about the majority is there's no more reasons for personal attacks by Harper and the Tories and QP may be quite boring to watch. Of course, Harper keeping his tone, corruption will go up,(secretly) and democracy will go down.

[ba1614]

Your rights and freedoms.

I hope all the idiots who voted for Harper will enjoy life living in a religious police state.

Don't forget your health care, Harper will be after that too!

[Shwa]

Harper's a meglomaniac. He won't be able to contain himself and keep in mind that his base has long been clamouring for drastic change that he could not give them in a minority government.

For them, there can be no more excuses as to why he cannot give them, the radical right, the changes that they desire.

Come off it. Of the 60% that actually showed up to vote, less than half voted for the CPC. He has a mandate, but a thin one. Nothing like the Mulroney landslide in 1984, more like the squeeker in 1988. And we all know what happened to the PC's in the next election in 1993 don't we? There is no way the CPC will ever forget how that worked out.

There is a vigorous opposition that will have plenty of press coverage and once they get their heads around how government works, I think you will see the CPC maintain their centre-ish Liberal-like position.

[Moonlight Graham]

Farewell party subsidies, hello more corporate interests. And if you think the ban on "corporate donations" prevents this, you're kidding yourself.

[icman]

Come off it. Of the 60% that actually showed up to vote, less than half voted for the CPC. He has a mandate, but a thin one. Nothing like the Mulroney landslide in 1984, more like the squeeker in 1988. And we all know what happened to the PC's in the next election in 1993 don't we? There is no way the CPC will ever forget how that worked out.

There is a vigorous opposition that will have plenty of press coverage and once they get their heads around how government works, I think you will see the CPC maintain their centre-ish Liberal-like position.

I get the feeling that you don't understand how government in the public eye works. Harper has at least, AT LEAST, 3 years to do whatever he wants to do. He will have 1 or 2 years after that to clean up public opinion to garner a new majority. He has shown that he is a master of spin - despite repeated demonstrations of him wanting to increase the prison population (= drain on resources), increase defense spending without appropriate oversight, divide Canadians (2nd class Canadians), divide Canada (kick Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes at every opportunity), ignore the wants of more than half of Canadians (as illustrated by his cooperative approach with Parliament in a minority government), and move Canada to a more militant and imperialist foreign relations posture, he still got a majority. He managed to do all that, with a minority, because Canada has the memory span of a gnat. You don't think that he could run Canada into the ground, and then find some way to blame the NDP that enough Canadians would believe to give him another majority? That he got one at all with his track record shows that most Canadians can't be trusted with something as sacred as a right to vote.

[lukin]

Seems to me this thread is full of people who feel entitled to government funds. The nanny state mentality in this country needs to erode. We need bottom up government. Enough of this top down-Trudeauesque mentality government.

Harper is a strong leader with a strong vision for Canada. We should all wish PM Harper the best to lead Canada through the next 4 years.

[Dave_ON]

Seems to me this thread is full of people who feel entitled to government funds. The nanny state mentality in this country needs to erode. We need bottom up government. Enough of this top down-Trudeauesque mentality government.

Harper is a strong leader with a strong vision for Canada. We should all wish PM Harper the best to lead Canada through the next 4 years.

So answer the question, what's on the chopping block first? What changes will he bring?

Also to everyone else, let's keep the conspiracy theories to a minimum.

[Michael Hardner]

I hope all the idiots who voted for Harper will enjoy life living in a religious police state.

This is hyperbole and nothing but.

Do you think that gay marriage can be overruled by Harper for example ? No.

[Michael Hardner]

Don't forget your health care, Harper will be after that too!

We've had a long time to address our problems, but we haven't yet done so - so the ground is fertile for new ideas.

[Dave_ON]

We've had a long time to address our problems, but we haven't yet done so - so the ground is fertile for new ideas.

Agreed, I'll be interested to see what Harper actually does this time around. He must be as giddy as a kid on Christmas day, so many gifts to open it's hard to choose.

[Topaz]

Farewell party subsidies, hello more corporate interests. And if you think the ban on "corporate donations" prevents this, you're kidding yourself.

I agree and Harper has a mental illness when it comes to the liberals, he wants them gone like the Bloc and by getting rid of the party subsidies, that just leave the Tories and the NDP with the Tories had complete control over this country.

[Topaz]

Seems to me this thread is full of people who feel entitled to government funds. The nanny state mentality in this country needs to erode. We need bottom up government. Enough of this top down-Trudeauesque mentality government.

Harper is a strong leader with a strong vision for Canada. We should all wish PM Harper the best to lead Canada through the next 4 years.

So tell us exactly what is HIS vision for Canada? Not what YOU think, HIS?

[Shwa]

I get the feeling that you don't understand how government in the public eye works. Harper has at least, AT LEAST, 3 years to do whatever he wants to do. He will have 1 or 2 years after that to clean up public opinion to garner a new majority. He has shown that he is a master of spin - despite repeated demonstrations of him wanting to increase the prison population (= drain on resources), increase defense spending without appropriate oversight, divide Canadians (2nd class Canadians), divide Canada (kick Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes at every opportunity), ignore the wants of more than half of Canadians (as illustrated by his cooperative approach with Parliament in a minority government), and move Canada to a more militant and imperialist foreign relations posture, he still got a majority.

Right, it must be I simply don't understand and that the Mulroney years are not informative at all.

I lived through the Mulroney governments, I even voted for him the first time. And if one thing became certain, people can sniff out spin. They did with the PC's in 1993 and sent them a crystal clear message.

Do you remember the protest over de-indexing the Old Age Pension in 1985? Do you remember the thousands of older folks who showed up on Parliament Hill and the weeks and weeks of protests across the country?

I do. It illustrated that you can only go so far with Canadians and they will push back even with a massive majority that the PC's enjoyed back then. Even though PM Mulorney backed down, that sort of bullshit stab-in-the-back to the public hurt them forever. They never recovered from being whacked with 'grey power.'

You do you remember that don't you?

He managed to do all that, with a minority, because Canada has the memory span of a gnat. You don't think that he could run Canada into the ground, and then find some way to blame the NDP that enough Canadians would believe to give him another majority? That he got one at all with his track record shows that most Canadians can't be trusted with something as sacred as a right to vote.

This is weak-mindedness on your part and hardly what I would call a Canadian trait of any value. 6 more months of winter for you, to stengthen your intestinal fortitude.

[fellowtraveller]

First on the chopping block will be the necks of most of the kittens in Canada, the Tory feasting will go on for months.

[treehugger]

Ok, so Tories got their majority, good for them, bad for Canada. So now what? Order the jets without engines, build those prisons and increase the prison population, cut taxes for corporations, bring in private health care after 2014,yes, get rid of the gun registry, perhaps the provinces can do their own, create this security perimeter around North America with the US holding power, spend the billions to finish the NA super highways, the bridge in Windsor-Detroit,. As Tories you now, own the Speaker of the House, the Senate and the government of Canada, so that puts Jack, no where, with no power to stop you or to let him keep his promises now he's out of luck! Just like back when the Tories came into being, I wonder how long will it be before new members to the party, realize what Harper is like and decide to leave and become an independent? The good thing about the majority is there's no more reasons for personal attacks by Harper and the Tories and QP may be quite boring to watch. Of course, Harper keeping his tone, corruption will go up,(secretly) and democracy will go down.

#1. this good for Canada!

#2.We need the new plane and yes they will have engines.

#3. Wher other than in prisons does one put a prisoner, let them all out on bail???

#4. If the taxes aren't kept down for corporations they will move to china, india, mexicoa and that's a fact.

#5. Two tier health car has been around for years, I guess you wouldn't notice living up in the aric.

#6.You are so depressing you must be a scorpio!!!!!

[scouterjim]

Ok so the CPC managed to pull off a majority, I'm still stunned and perhaps even a little bit awed. I still can't believe what a nail biter it was to the bitter end! The way some of those seats were flipping back and forth in many cases with fewer than 100 vote leads. So the election is done for at least 4 years, though 5 wouldn't surprise me so now what? Now the CPC can finally make all their hopes and dreams come true! It'll be a varitable Toriopia!

My guess for immediate actions items they will tackle.

Long Gun Registery (No big loss)

Party vote subsidy (This will all but ensure the demise of the BLOC)

What else do you think? Certainly senate reform will be up there especially considering with the NDP in opposition, the parliamentary will exists to get the ball rolling. I think this is a far steeper hill to climb than either of them yet realizes however. Will the CPC go further with electoral reform now that they are enjoying their long sought after majority?

One final note, the CPC were all but shut out of Quebec, seriously they barely beat out the BLOC. Will they extend a hand to Quebec or is this the beginning of shutting Quebec out entirely? Will Mr. Harper avoid the hot button social issues or steam roll right over them? So many questions at this point.

I will say this, I was very surprised by his speech this morning, I don't think I've ever seen Harper so open and almost, dare I say it, human. He seemed more than willing to work with the opposition but those words come easily when you have a majority I suppose. Be that as it may it'll definitely be an interesting 4-5 years. I for one will be interested to see how the Tory/NDP support firms up and takes shape.

At least the CPC isn't afraid of their own shadow like the Liberals. The Liberals are so afraid that they will be told they are not being politically correct, that they have no guts to do ANYTHING except destroy Canada's military.

[ToadBrother]

I agree and Harper has a mental illness when it comes to the liberals, he wants them gone like the Bloc and by getting rid of the party subsidies, that just leave the Tories and the NDP with the Tories had complete control over this country.

If the Tories veer too far to the right, they'll lose those critical seats in Ontario. I think the final tally will show the NDP was hot and heavy on them in a lot of ridings. Harper may be a lot of things, but one thing he is not is a moron.

I think you'll find in a couple of years there are as many disappointed Social Conservatives and Libertarians as there are left-of-center voters right now.

[PIK]

So tell us exactly what is HIS vision for Canada? Not what YOU think, HIS?

To clean up this place and get some order back and get people off there asses and working again, the nanny state is over. And screw the visions,that is what get us into trouble, we are still paying for trudeau's vision. Life is good.

[ToadBrother]

To clean up this place and get some order back and get people off there asses and working again, the nanny state is over. And screw the visions,that is what get us into trouble, we are still paying for trudeau's vision. Life is good.

And what parts of the nanny state will he be eliminating? Be specific here.

You don't have to toss slogans around any more. The Tories have won.

Edited May 3, 2011 by ToadBrother

[Battletoads]

This is hyperbole and nothing but.

Do you think that gay marriage can be overruled by Harper for example ? No.

Harpers already planning to make wiretapping warrantless in the next 100 days.

Say goodbye to your civil rights Canadians, if you've voted for Harper you obviously don't deserve them.

[Shakeyhands]

Harper may be a lot of things, but one thing he is not is a moron.

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